I'd prefer a fresh face rather than someone from the past. Unless the ghost if Xmas past was Powell

I would certainly want Powell but it is extremely unlikely we get him this season at least but we should be trying imo.

He's failed to really rebuild Warrington post Briers, and has been given a war chest only Salford could probably match to do it. I'd be reluctant to have him back as I think we need a coach who can rebuild the team, and he's not shown he can really do that in the last 5 years at least.

Smith or McDermott? Smith in a heartbeat. When Smith took over Warrington from Lowes they were in a poor way, he made them competitive before the season was out, winning their first Challenge Cup in 35 years and has kept them up there ever since.

I don't expect he'll become available or that Leeds would go there even if he did.

Meanwhile, in Warrington...

rlSmith Outrl

Strangely familiar reading.

Warrington have major problems in the backs, I don't think any of the 3/4s would get into our team, and despite Gidley being a good leader, he seems to be something of a choker when it really matters. They're pack without Hill is lightweight, and it's slow without Currie. They have halves that would walk into our team, but they have no platform from the pack, and no pace or strike in backline to utilise.

Smith has gotten them into positions to win things but the players have not managed to take the chances. A couple of challenge cups a few years back is not a big reward really. They lost too many big games in the past because they give the opposition a chance - they make too many mistakes. At Leeds he had a squad that was smart enough to play open, attacking rugby during the regular season and then shut up shop and play mistake free rugby and converting all their chances to points. I don't think he's been able to recreate that at Warrington (if he was trying - I don't know). But they were rubbish when he took over from Lowes and they have been consistent since he took over. Always in with a shout, just not getting the result in the big game.

Even at Leeds barring the 2004 GF Smith's sides have a poor record in big games when it's a tight score line. His 2007 GF win and CC wins against us came when they could race into a big lead. He's had some very easy cup runs at Warrington and some very easy semi finals (and still managed to lose a few when strong favourite). Last years two finals show he still has this problem.

Whilst he's turned them into contenders (they should be with the squads he's had) you'd have to consider it a failure if he leaves Warrington having never won a GF with the money spent and players bought in his time there.

Some very good points re-Smiths tenure both here & at Wire but when all is said and done id still take him back on an intial 2 &1/2yr deal with it getting reviewed in 18mths.
I doubt Wire will sack him anyway tbf.

Wigan looked good last - despite all their injuries. There depth of youngsters is a testament to the quality of recruitment and coaching.

Their depth of younsterds is a testament to the quality of their development.

What's the Leeds academy got to do with it?

i would take him back as head of coaching performance and let him bring in his head coach. his nephew Rohan is highly rated, and with Morley now on the coaching plus Burrow JJb reckon that could be a dream move for all.

I would agree with that. They haven't had the rub of the green though when it comes the GF imo. In 2011 they were head and shoulders above everyone in the league, losing to us in the eliminator by a last minute penalty goal then the 2012 final we got them again in a match i believe they were leading after an hour.In the 2013 GF they were beating Wigan by a few scores and lost 2/3 players to injury which let Wigan back in and last year the gamebreaker was when they had the match by the scruff of the neck and led midway through second half and Atkins spilled the ball over the line, Wigan go down the other end and score.

All fine margins and you could say Warrington choked all those away, but it's hard not to feel for them and say they should have at least 1 GF trophy in the cabinet by now under Smith. Like you say, he has always had his teams in the mix pretty much for 2004 till now.